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2022 SESSION

22103522D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 54
Offered January 17, 2022
Celebrating the life of the Honorable Robert D. Laney.
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Patron-- Morrissey
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WHEREAS, the Honorable Robert D. Laney, a former chief judge of the 12th Judicial District of Virginia, died on December 15, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Robert Laney attended Petersburg High School and was a member of the school football team; in his youth, he also served as president of the Student Conservation Association and was a longtime member of the Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS, Robert Laney matriculated at the University of Michigan, then enlisted in the United States Navy in 1958; he returned to the Commonwealth after his military service and graduated from the University of Richmond, where he had been elected president of Sigma Chi fraternity; and

WHEREAS, after completing his undergraduate degree, Robert Laney earned a law degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond and worked in private practice in Colonial Heights; and

WHEREAS, Robert Laney began serving as a substitute judge in 1974 and also worked part-time as an assistant attorney for the Commonwealth from 1974 to 1976; and

WHEREAS, in 1984, Robert Laney was sworn in as a judge of the 12th Judicial District of Virginia and served on the Chesterfield and Colonial Heights General District Courts; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure on the bench, Robert Laney presided with great fairness and wisdom, and he treated everyone who came before his courts with dignity and respect, earning a reputation for consistency and compassion; and

WHEREAS, Robert Laney served as chief judge for several years over the course of his career and continued to provide his expertise to courts throughout Central Virginia as substitute judge after his well-earned retirement in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Robert Laney enjoyed many hobbies outside of the legal profession and proudly coached his son Matthew’s Little League Baseball team and later relished every opportunity to travel and watch his son’s college and minor league games; and

WHEREAS, Robert Laney will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 36 years, Rebecca; his children, Jennifer, Susan, and Matthew, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Robert D. Laney; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Honorable Robert D. Laney as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.